Scaredy Cats and Bully Cats

[lizzyerd]

We now have four cats.  Ages from 10 to 2/3.  

Back in April I adopted our fourth cat, a 6 year old spayed female who was overweight.  

When I brought her home I had the other cats locked up in rooms and let our newone roam her new home.  After checking a few various websites, and after reading more than once that above all you should trust your own instincts about introducing the old cats to the new cats I tried the first cat.  

The youngest.  She's been around other cats before, and is usually the sweetest.  They met, and hissed so back into a room went the youngest cat.  

((I probably should have reevaluated my thought process right there, but I wanted the new and old kitties to be friends soon))  

I tried the oldest cat next, she was raised in a multicat household from a very small kitten, and had new cats brought in before and did fine so I thought I'd try her with the new one.  

That one worked nicely.  They met, touched noses, and turned away from each other.  

I thought, great.  So feeling justified I tried for the last cat.  Our only male who is four almost five.  He also grew up in a multi cat household, and when we brought in the youngest (the first cat I introduced to the 6 yr new comer) he welcomed her with open paws.  So I thought he would with this cat as well.  

Nope.  

It's been four months.  Since that time the new cat has been in my room where she has a separated litter box and food and water dish.  
That really bad thing is that our only male likes to bully her.  Of course we don't encourage it (he also bullies the oldest cat, even though they played together when he was a kitten) but because of his bullying the new cat gets so scared sometimes that she pees.  

I feel sorry for the new cat and have tried different things.  I'd like to try to bring her into the main house while locking up the others, but the new cat does NOT tolerate being held for any length of time.  She does walk out sometimes three or four steps when we feed the other cats, but then she goes right back in.  
(We live in a slightly small two bedroom duplex).  

Does anyone have any thoughts/ideas/whatever I could try for the poor thing.  I really don't want to give her away, but I feel like it's unfair for her to be stuck in one room when the others aren't.  Also, I have tried to wrap her in a towel or blanket and bring her out that way, but it didn't work either, she squirms so much, and I don't want to traumatize her.  

thank you

[lizzyerd]

We got the spray 'feliaway' awhile back, but it didn't really seem to do anything.  

We're thinking about trying the collars instead,  

Right now it's at the point the new cat will hiss and growl at any of them that show themselves.  

Thanks for the comment, good luck to you, too.  

[Bkitty2]

I kinda am going thru the same thing right now. We have 6 male kitties 2 months-18yrs old. Right now its our Kitty that is 10months old (Elmo) that is terrorizing all the other kitties. We also added a puppy in the mix. Our one cat Milo has retreated to under the bed in my room and now has a litter box and food in their also. He wont come out and when he does he get attacked by Elmo. Elmo, Bosco (puppy) & the new baby all need to get fixed still. There is a lot of testosterone in this house! LOL Usually its my 18yr old kitty that is the dominant one but due to his age and the dementia he just sleeps. I was told they are fighting for dominance. The vet recommended aroma thereapy. There is some kind of plug in that you can but at the petstores that has a "calming" effect. Its going to take some time. I know a few other members will be along that will know better what to do. I am sorry that this is happening. Right now as I type I hear a stampede upstairs so they are going at it right now. All.day.long. Hang in there